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Google's Epic Settlement Brings Fortnite Back to Google Play, Plus Broad Dev Discounts

Welcome back, Fortnite: Google is already making improvements to the Google Play Store following last year's Epic Games settlement.

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Headshot of Tyler Lacoma
Tyler Lacoma Editor / Home Security and Smart Home
Tyler has worked on, lived with and tested all types of smart home and security technology for over a dozen years, explaining the latest features, privacy tricks, and top recommendations. With degrees in Business Management, Literature and Technical Writing, Tyler takes every opportunity to play with the latest AI technology, push smart devices to their limits and occasionally throw cameras off his roof, all to find the best devices to trust in your life. He always checks with the renters (and pets) in his life to see what smart products can work for everyone, in every living situation. Living in beautiful Bend, Oregon gives Tyler plenty of opportunities to test the latest tech in every kind of weather and temperature. But when not at work, he can be found hiking the trails, trying out a new food recipe for his loved ones, keeping up on his favorite reading, or gaming with good friends.
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Tyler Lacoma
2 min read
A phone with the Epic Games logo held against a Google Play logo.

Fortnite once again returns to the Google Play Store, but this time with widespread changes.

 NurPhoto / Contributor via Getty

Google moved forward on Wednesday with its agreement to settle a years-long antitrust battle with Epic Games, marking a significant development for Fortnite players. While the settlement still awaits final approval, Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney posted the news on X.

"Fortnite will return to Google Play Store worldwide soon," Sweeney wrote. "Epic Games Store continues supporting Android worldwide alongside Windows and Mac, and installation on Android will become much easier later in 2026."

A Google representative didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. 

The Epic Games settlement included an offer from Google to change how the Google Play Store works. 

"For new installs (first-time installs from users after the new fees are launched in a region), we are reducing the in-app purchase (IAP) service fee to 20%," Google reported on its Android Developers Blog.

That's a significant drop from the previous 30%, which could make buying apps more affordable for customers when the change rolls out to US customers by June 30. Google is also discounting its cut of recurring subscription fees to 10%.

Even more important for long-term Google Play offerings, Google is now adding the ability for developers to offer their third-party app store payment option, sideloaded with Google's payment method, so users will have new choices regarding the platform on which they pay.

What this means for Google Play purchases

A Google illustration of a chalkboard with Android's development payment changes.

Developers stand to benefit from Google Play's latest changes, though the impact on customers remains unclear.

 Google

Keep in mind, Google has only just introduced its program allowing qualified alternative app stores on Android and is still in the process of lowering fees, so changes are unlikely to be felt for several months.

When the updates do roll out, developers on Google Play -- including Epic Games -- will have new opportunities to save money when selling their apps, and new methods to sell that didn't exist before. That could attract more developers to the Google Play Store and make apps easier for Android users to access. If there's an app you've been wishing was available on Google Play, it's now more likely to become available.

The changes may also lead to lower prices for customers, although that's not guaranteed. Google is lowering its profit share, but developers will have to decide whether to pass those savings along to buyers. Fortnite fans aren't the only ones who have something to look forward to, but it will take time to see the final effects.